The Anupparapalayam police arrested R. Kannan, an employee of a textile unit, on the charges of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl at Poyampalayam on Friday.

The girl was admitted to a private hospital in the city and later got referred to a hospital in Coimbatore.

Inspector S. Syed Babu said the accused, a native of Cuddalore district, committed the offence when the girl was alone in her house. The accused was staying in the adjacent house. The girl was living with her mother after father deserted the family.